Changeable sign



y 1931- R M. CRAIG 1,803,598

CHANGEABLE S IGN Filed March 1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 3 R. M. CRAIG1,803,598

CHANGEABLE SIGN Filed March 1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J fa. Z

y 1931- R. M. CRAIG 1,803,598

' CHANGEABLE SIGN Filed March 1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 avmxwam 1?.MC'rad.

/, Patented May 5,1931

RICHARD M. CRAIG, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS CHANGEAIBLE SIGN a licationfiled March 1,

This invention has for its object the provision of a movable sign ofnovel construction and which in operation will produce novel andstriking effects whereby the attention of passers-by will be attracted.The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will behereinafter first fully described and then more particularly defined inthe appended claims.

In the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display apparatus embodying thepresent invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same,

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, g

I Fig. 4 is an end elevation,

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of one form of display member,

6 is a diagram of the several display elements, and v Fig. 7 is adiagram illustrative of the operation. I f

In the particular structure illustrated in the drawings, there isemployed a box or hollow base. 1 in which is mounted a motor 2 and adistributer 3, the motor being controlled from a distant switch in anyconvenient manner which will be readily understood by those skilled inthe electrical art, the sign being intended more particularly fordisplay upon the front of a building and at a height where it will beout of the reach of mischievously inclined individuals. Erected upon thetop of the box 1 are standards 4 located adjacent the ends of the boxand having their upper ends formed into or rigidly supporting tubes 5which extend inwardly and to and between the inner ends of which issecured a frame 6 of insulation and which preferably includes a centraltransparent pane 7. Mounted upon the tubes 5 to rotate about the same isa drum 8 which is preferably of polygonal cross section, the drawingsshowing a drum having a hexagonal cross sectional contour, although1930. Serial No. 482,448.

the drum may be square, triangular or other symmetrical form. The drumis of a skeleton formation including end disks 9 of insulating material,one side plate 10 of opaque material secured upon and extending betweensaid disks, and grooved plates or re-entrant flanges 11 extendinglongitudinally of the drum at the-corners of the same and receivingslides 12, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. These slides 12 may bestencil plates having any desired announcements cut therein or they amay be plates or strips of translucent material having the announcementspainted or otherwise displayed thereon in contrasting. characters orcolors and said stencil plates are light transmitting in character. InFig.

5, I have illustrated a display element consisting of a sheet ofmaterial 13 provided with a pigment color illustrated in the drawings asorange. The sheet 13 may be made of cel luloid, gelatine or othersuitable material having sufficient durability and capable of permittingthe passage of light, and upon this sheet 13 is secured an outer sheet14 upon which are clear letters 15 or words so that,

when .light is permitted to pass through the iheet, the letters or wordswill be wholly legi- One end disk 9 is extendedso as to form a pulleyand a belt 16 is trained aboutthe pulley and about a pulley 17 on themotor shaft so that the drum may be rotated. The distributer 3 is alsodriven from the motor 2 through speed reducing gears, indicatedconventionally at 18, and connected through bev- 8O eled pinions 19 withthe shaft of the distri buter drum.

Disposed at opposite sides of the transparent plate 7 and supportedthereby are luminescent tubes 20 and 21 which are given the form ofparallel straight lines connected by alternatel opposed bends whereby toconstitute a gri and the tubes are given different, spectral colors, onebeing red and the other blue in the selected structure. Elee- 9 tricconductors 22 lead to' the bearing tube 5 at the upper end of thestandard 4 and then pass through said tube to be connected to theterminals of the respective grids, as will be understood. Theseconductors, of course, are not Connected directly with the input cablesbut extend from the secondary sides of transformers, indicatedconventionally at 23 in Fig. 7. Disposed at the back of the frame 6 andthe grids are mirrors 24 which are arranged to reflect the light fromthe rear grid so that it will be caused to pass through the front 'ofthe drum and thereby add to the unique efiects obtained from the use oftheapparatus. The grids and 21 are luminescent gas-filled tubes of thetype popularlycalled neon tubes. They are of clear glass and they arefilled with gases such that, when illuminated, one tube will emit a redlight and the other a blue light. It is the usual practice in neon tubework to employ a tube of yellow or uranium glass with the same fillerwhich makes a blue light, the blue light combining with the yellow ofthe glass to make a green light. Uranium glass isexceedingly difiiculttohandle and does not satisfactorilywithstand weather changes. I avoid allthe difliculties attendant upon the use of such glass by employing anorange or yellow celluloid or gelatine film on the stencil plate andsending light from the blue id therethrough, thereby obtaining a greenfia ickground for the display. In like manner, various colors may bedisplayed and. each stencil or announcement may be shown with a.distinctive background, a steel blue film lighted from the red grid, forinstance, showing white.

Mounted upon the opaque side 10 of the drum is a luminescent tube or apair of tubes 25 which are fashioned to form any desired outline, thedrawings showing a series of bends which are extended in oppositedirections, parts of the tubes being darkened or rendered opaque, asindicated at 26, so that when the drum is rotated at a. speed higherthan the speed of vision the illuminated tube will produce the effect ofa rotating corkscrew or auger. The terminals of the tube 26 areconnected with conductor rings 27 set in the outer face of an end disk 9and brushes or contact fingers 30 are arrangedto bear upon said rings sothat the tube may be illuminated, Wires 31 connecting said brushes orcontact fin ers with a transformer 32. as ndicated in ig. 7, and acondenser 33 being inserted across said wires.

Secured upon the standards 4 near the upper ends thereof are arms 34projecting forwardly beyond the drum and supported by the ends of thesearms is a light transmitting luminescent tube or announcement member 35which is fashioned into a word identifying the upon which or thebusiness in connection with which the apparatus is displayed. Theterminals of this tube 35 are connected by wires 36 with a transformer37. as shown in Fig. 7. It will be noted upon reference to Figs. 3 and 4that the tube 35 is disposed approximately in the horizontal plane ofthe axisof the drum and alined with the grids 20 and 21 so that when thetube is not 'illuminated and the grids are illuminated the light fromthe grids will passthrough the front -of the drum and through the tube35 without interference or distortion, the tube 35 being of clear glassand forming a word in script without any opaque spaces. The color of thetube when illuminated is determined by the gas with which it is filled.To prevent vertical divergenc'e of the rays from the mirrors 24, guardplates 38 may be secured to the for- 'ward edges of the mirrors andextend forwardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 3.

The illumination of the tubes is eflected through primary and secondarycircuits, all of the electrical connections so far described being inthe secondary circuits. The primary circuits include input lines 39 and40, the line 39 being connected to each of the transformers 23, 32 and37, as shown in Fig. 7, while the line 40 extends to a brush 41 which isarranged to cooperate with the drum of the distributer 3. This drum is acylinder of insulation having continuous conductor rings 42 set in itsperiphery at one end and having contact blocks 43 set in the remainingpor-' tion of its circumferential surface at various intervals and atvarious locations to control the illumination of the several tubes.Brushes 44 bear upon the rings 42 and these brushes are connected byconductors 45 with the respective transformers, a variable resistance 46being inserted in the conductor 45 leading to the transformer 32, asshown in Fig. 7. From the brush 41, a wire 47 leads to a brush 48 whichis arranged to make contactwith a conductor ring 49 mounted on the endof the drum opposite the end carrying the contact rings 27. The ring 49is connected through a wire 50 and branches thereof with the severalcontact blocks 51 set in the adjacent end of the drum and correspondingin their arrangementto the several tubes which are to be selectivelyilluminated. The several contacts 43 upon the distributer drum are eachelectrically connected with one of the rings 42. The brush 41 when acontact 43 of the drum rides under its free end will establish a circuitthrough the uppermost wire 45 shown in Fig. 7 with the transformer 32and the pattern tube 25 will, consequently,

be illuminated, the illumination being constant when the circuit isthrough the brush 41 and the drum. The brush 52 which is next to thebrush 41 will be electrically connected through a contact 43 of the drumwith the same ring 42 as the brush 41 and the several contacts are soarranged that when a contact 43 is under the free end of the brush 52one of the contact blocks 51 in the end of the display drum will be inengagement with a brush 53 mounted adjacent the end of the drum andconnected through a wire 54 with the brush 52 so that the circuit willthen be up through the wire 47 and brush 48, ring 49, wire 50, block 51,brush 53 and wire 54 to the brush 52 and thence to the transformer,

the circuit being closed only momentarily between the points 51 and 53sothat the pattern tube will then be illuminated only once during therotation of the drum. The tube 35 is illuminated intermittently, theperiods being controlled by the block 51 next adjacent the block 51which has just been more particularly referred to in describing the pairwill control illumination of the grid 21 and, therefore, either a red ora blue light will be sent out accordingly. The contact blocks 51cooperating with the several pairs of brushes 55 are set upon the drumin position corresponding to the positions of the respective displayplates 12 so that the grids will be illuminated only when one of saidplates is in the display or reading position, indicatedin Fig. 1, andthe illumination will occur only when the proper display plate is in thereading position. The display apparatus of the present invention isparticularly adapted for use upon theaters and other places ofamusements and in order-that its functions may be clearly understood, Ihave shown upon the several plates 12 the words and figures indicativeofthe particular act or performance which at a given time may be uponthe stage and the several circuit closing contacts upon the distributerdrum and upon the display drum are so arranged that illumination willoccur once in each rotation of the display drum and only at such time asthe proper display plate happens to be in the reading position. Thepattern tube 25 being fixed upon the drum and rotating therewith, theimpressions created by the tube in its ro-' tation will be retained bythe eye for a period greater than the period during which the tube isactually seen by the eye and this persistency of vision will cause theimpressions of the tube to be superimposed upon each other inasmuch asthe drum rotates at a speed greater than the speed of vision and manypleasing designs may be seen as a result of thlS physicalcharacteristic. I have found that if the full strength of thealternating current on the primary side of the transformer be permittedto flow continuously into the tube 25, the lines will be broad and theefi'ect will be a broad background of color but by interposing thecondenser 33 in the circuit I am enabled to obtain very sharply definedlines and by selecting tubes of proper forms the design may be variedinfinitely. I have also found that if a resistance be interposed in theprimary side of the circuit the points in the rotation of the drum atwhich the tube appears to be illuminated may be varied .and thisattribute of the apparatus permits me to vary the effect obtained.

When the stationary tube 35 is illuminated,

the pattern tube 25 is also illuminated and" will produce a backgroundfor the announcement, the grids both being dark. By adjusting theresistance 46, the pattern tube 25 may be caused to illuminate with suchfrequency that the corkscrew may appear with broken threads or rotate atdifferent speeds or even turn backward.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a verycompactand simple apparatus by the use of which a very effective andattractive display may be made and an advertising medium of great valuewill be furnished.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have shown a reflector for throwing thelight out one side of the drum, thus making the characters visible orlegible on one side of the drum only. By omitting the reflector,however, it is obvious that 'the signs or characters may be shown onboth sides of the drum simultaneously.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1,. A dis lay apparatus comprising a drum mounted ti rotation about itsmajor axis,

a luminescent tube disposed in front of the drum in a fixed position,display plates mounted upon the drum, a luminescent tube disposed withinthe drum and fixedly supported, and means controlled by the rotation ofthe drum for intermittently illuminating the tubes whereby theannouncements upon the display plates may be read behind the fixed tube1n front of the drum,

2. A display apparatus comprising a drum mounted for rotation about itsmajor axis, a luminescent tube forminga readable character supported infixed position in front of the drum, means within the drum forilluminating announcements thereon, and means controlled by rotation ofthe drum for intermittently illuminating the said tube and theilluminating means within the drum.

3. A display apparatus comprising a drum mounted for continuous rotationabout its major axis, display plates carried by the drum, a gas-filledluminescent tube within the drum to cast light through the displayplates, and means controlled by the rotation of the drum forintermittently illuminating the tube.

4. A display apparatus comprising a drum mounted for continuous rotationabout its major axis, display plates mounted on the sides-of the drum,gas-filled luminescent tubes secured within the drum in fixed positionand having contrasting colors, and means controlled by rotation of thedrum for illuminatin the tubes.

5.- display apparatus comprising a drum mounted for rotation about itsmajor axis, display plates mounted on the drum, a stationary frameWithin the drum and including a central transparent portion, luminescenttubes of contrasting colors mounted at the opposite sides of saidtransparent portion wherebyto project light through the display plates,and means controlled by rotation of the drum for intermittently andselectively illuminatin the tubes.

6. A disp ay apparatus comprising a drum mounted for rotation about itsmajor axis, display plates on the sides of the drum, a fixed framewithin the drum including a transparent portion, luminescent tubes ofcontrasting colors arranged at the'opposite sides of said transparentportion, mirrors disposed at the rear of said frame, and meanscontrolled by rotation of the drum'to intermittently and selectivelyilluminate said tubes.

7. A display apparatus comprising a drum mounted for rotation'about itsmajor axis and having a polygonal cross section with one opaque side,display plates removably fitted in the remaining sides of the drum,luminescent tubes supported in fixed position within the drum to projectlight through the display plates at the front of the drum, a luminescenttube secured upon the outer face of the opaque side of the drum andhaving a design forming shape, and means controlled bythe rotation ofthe drum for selectively illuminating the tubes.

8. A display apparatus comprising a rotatable carrier, a luminescenttube mounted on the carrier and shaped to form a pattern, a stationaryluminescent tube mounted in front of the carrier and forming anannouncement, and means for illuminating the tubesduring rotation of thecarrier whereby the pattern tube will produce a background for theannouncementtube.

9. A display apparatus comprising a rotatable drum, display plates onthe sides of the drum, a luminescent tube within the drum to send lightthrough the display plates, a stationary luminescent tube in front ofthe drum, and means for intermittently illuminating the tubes, the tubein front of the drum being invisible when the other tube is illuminate10. A display apparatus comprising a luminescent announcement element, aluminescent design forming element and means for continuously moving oneelement relative to able member and thou h which the light rays pass, aluminescent esign element interposed adjacent the stencil, means forilluminating the tube, and means for illuminating the design element.

13. A display apparatus comprising relatively fixed and movable members,a luminescent tube mounted on the'stationary member, a stencil carriedby the movable member, a luminescent pattern forming tube also carriedby the movable-member, means for illuminating the tubes, and meanswhereby the stencil will display a transmitted'light announcement at oneperiod and the pattern tube a composite transmitted light design atanother.

14. A display apparatus comprising relatively stationary and movablemembers, a luminescent tube carried by thestationary member,interchangeable light transmitting stencil plates removably mounted onthe movable member, means for illuminating the'tube, and means forcontinuously rotating themovable member.

15. A display apparatus comprising a stationary luminescent tube, amember movable around the tube, a light transmitting announcementstencil carried by said movable member, means for illuminating the tube,and a stationary light transmitting announcement member arranged infront of the movable member.

16. A display apparatus comprising a stationary member, a luminescenttube carried by the stationarymember, a stationary light transmittingannouncement member arranged in front of theluminescent tube, a movablemember, and a light transmitting announcement stencil carried by themovable member and visible through the stationary announcement member.

17. A display apparatus comprising a continuously rotating member, apattern forming luminescent tube carried by said member, a stationaryluminescent tube arranged in juxta-position to the rotating member andfashioned to form announcement characters,

"and means for illuminatin the tubes either simultaneously or indepenently.

18. A display apparatus comprising a continuously rotatlng member,a-stationary luminescent tube mounted within said member t and having adistinctive spectral color, means I for illuminating .-the tube, and nstencil mounted on the rotating member and "proa. composite color.

vided with a translucent pigment color m whereby when the member isrotated the spectral and pigment colors will blend to produce testimonywhereof I aflix my signature.

7 RICHARD M. CRAIG.

I [as

